“This experience was truly remarkable. Being able to learn from world-renowned faculty members alongside an international cohort of fellows was so special. I realized during the hands-on workshops that although we come from different parts of the world and have different training, we all speak the same language when it comes to patient safety,” explained Dr. Bernhard Cherouny from Germany.
236 applicants applied to the anesthesiology and intensive care seminar that took place from May 17 to 23, 2026. 38 fellows from 31 countries were selected to attend the course, making this group one of the most international cohorts ever. We are thrilled to once again partner with Weill Cornell Medicine and the Medical University of Vienna for this week’s seminar.
The seminar was spearheaded by two long-term OMI supporters from renowned institutions: Course director Dr. Hugh C. Hemmings, Jr. from Weill Cornell Medicine and co-course director Dr. Oliver Kimberger from the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Hemmings Jr. has participated in 23 seminars, while Dr. Kimberger has served at five programs. They were joined by Dr. Jurgen C. de Graaff, Dr. Marguerite Hoyler, and Dr. Deirdre C. Kelleher (Weill Cornell Medicine, USA), Dr. Stefan J. Schaller, Dr. Bernhard Roessler, and Dr. Stefan Bartos (Medical University of Vienna), Dr. Anthony Absalom (University of Groningen, the Netherlands), Dr. Joana Berger-Estilita (University of Bern, Switzerland), as well as Dr. Johannes Gratz (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany).
“The faculty’s topics included perioperative medicine, pharmacology, outcomes, ethics, hemodynamics, bleeding and coagulation, airway management, monitoring, simulation, and teamwork. Highlights of the course included hands-on workshops and case presentations by the fellows. The course benefited from the wonderful organization of the OMI team, the beautiful setting of Schloss Arenberg, the outstanding group of international fellows, and the dedicated faculty, all of which contributed to another rewarding seminar,” summarized the course director.
Faculty member Dr. Margo Hoyler from Weill Cornell Medicine was an OMI newcomer. She gave a powerful statement about her first impressions of the course. “I have been tremendously impressed by all aspects of the seminar. The fellows were extremely engaged and brought with them a wealth of experiences and perspectives that they were eager to share. The cases they presented included a wide array of clinical challenges and thoughtful management strategies, often with impressive results. The seminar atmosphere was collegial and supported a robust exchange of ideas and knowledge. It has been a privilege to participate as a faculty member and a truly enjoyable experience,” she explained.
Without a doubt, the highlights of the week were the hands-on training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. The fellows were able to immediately apply the learned theory in a practical setting under the expert guidance of faculty members. Drs. Hoyler, Roessler, and Bartos led the workshop on CPR simulation, while Drs. Berger-Estilita, de Graaff, Hoyler, and Kelleher led the part on difficult airway management.
The CPR sessions focused on refining non-technical skills, particularly communication skills, in stressful situations. The fellows learned to communicate as a team in a precise and clear manner during a low-fidelity CPR simulation. Under expert guidance, they were taught how to go from a chaotic situation to a structured condition that is most efficient and safe for the patient. The fact that the participants came from 31 different countries, each with different operational procedures, made the experience even more educational and interesting.
The sessions on difficult airway management featured three stations, two on adults and one on a neonate. The differences between neonate and adult intubation were explained at length before participants could practice on dummies provided by the faculty. Fellows could practice proper intubation methods and masking techniques using laryngoscopes, oral and nasal tubes, and bag valve masks. Intubation skills like the ones practiced are needed in trauma patients, during emergency surgery, general anesthesia, and cardiac arrest.
Hermela Alemayehu Ali, MD
OMI fellow from Ethiopia
I was able to listen to my first-ever proper lecture on the topic of EEG monitoring with clinical correlations of drug-to-drug differences by Dr. Berger-Estilita. She managed to simplify a dense topic in only one hour with colored illustrations and interactive questions and answers.
Donika Borisova, MD
OMI fellow from Bulgaria
Wednesday centered on ethics, communication, and end-of-life care. The excellent presentation by Dr. Schaller on rehabilitation, survivorship, and long-term outcomes only reminded us how existentially important these topics are for our work since they are a part of our everyday practice.
Jānis Kolbergs, MD
OMI fellow from Latvia
Working together with specialists from different countries was both educational and inspiring during the difficult airway management workshop. The debriefing discussions after the simulations were especially valuable, allowing participants to reflect, discuss different approaches, and share experiences from their own institutions.
